Compare towns
Chaplin vs Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chaplin | Dunstable | Pepperell | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,408 |
11,663Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.